Bold Trade Predictions Before the 2025 NFL Season Kicks Off

Even with the initial 53-man rosters set, general managers will continue to consider trade opportunities until the November 4 deadline.

Within the first two months of the season, contenders will separate themselves from the pretenders. Some of the teams vying for playoff seeding will be buyers, attempting to poach players from basement-dwelling clubs.

Let's get ahead of the deadline action with seven bold trade scenarios before the 2025 season kicks off.

Who should be the top suitor for Micah Parsons if the Dallas Cowboys fail to strike a new deal with him? Could there be a run on the wide receiver market in November?

Atlanta Falcons Trade for WR Tyreek Hill

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill

Atlanta Falcons Get: WR Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 3rd-round pick, WR Darnell Mooney

The Dolphins' season could go sour quickly if the team struggles early and appears more like a squad headed toward a rebuild than one on track for the playoffs.

Let's flashback to the end of the 2024 campaign when Hill said he wanted out of Miami after the club missed the postseason. The 31-year-old won't have patience for another down year with no guaranteed money on the final term of his current deal.

Between Weeks 2 and 4, the Dolphins will play their division rivals. If they come out of that stretch with a losing record, emotions could boil over and result in a blockbuster trade that sends Hill to the Falcons.

The Falcons don't have a timetable for wideout Darnell Mooney's return from a shoulder injury. According to head coach Raheem Morris, he's "week to week." If the 27-year-old wideout is healthy by the trade deadline, Atlanta can include him in the deal.

The Falcons should be proactive in an approach to match their offensive firepower with that of the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Michael Penix Jr. on his rookie deal, Atlanta should consider acquiring Hill, who can aid in the development of its young quarterback.

With Hill, the Falcons can field a high-octane aerial attack with Drake London and Kyle Pitts already in the fold.

Dallas Cowboys Acquire RB Breece Hall

AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

Jets RB Breece Hall

Dallas Cowboys Get: RB Breece Hall

New York Jets Get: WR Jalen Tolbert, 2026 4th-round pick

This offseason, the Cowboys went bargain-bin shopping to address a need at running back after they lost 1,000-plus-yard rusher Rico Dowdle in free agency. The club signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to one-year deals and drafted Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.

According to The Athletic's Jon Machota, Williams is "expected" to be the Cowboys' Week 1 starter.

Williams is coming off a down year, and he hasn't topped 903 rushing yards in a single season. Dallas could be patient with Blue and Mafah coming along in their first year, or it can be aggressive if the club is in the playoff picture near the November 4 trade deadline.

Meanwhile, the Jets have a three-man backfield with Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis pushing for touches. When you consider quarterback Justin Fields' ability as a ball-carrier, Gang Green can afford to trade Hall for draft capital, especially if the team doesn't expect to retain him in free agency next offseason.

The Jets can trade Hall for a middle-round draft pick and Tolbert, who can immediately bolster their wide receiver unit while still maintaining a robust ground attack with Allen, Davis and Fields leading the charge.

Green Bay Packers Trade for EDGE Micah Parsons

AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez

Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 6th-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 3rd-round pick, Lukas Van Ness

Green Bay Packers Get: EDGE Micah Parsons, 2026 5th-round pick

The Cowboys and Parsons are in a contractual standoff. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer expects the star edge-rusher to suit up with the team for Week 1.

If Parsons suits up without a new deal or holds out, Dallas will get offers for him throughout the season. The Cowboys may not see a pathway to an agreement with the two-time All-Pro who will be the highest-paid non-quarterback when he signs a new contract.

Dallas could fetch multiple premium picks and a young player in return for Parsons, who's in the prime of his career.

As a playoff contender trying to match the elite teams, the Packers should make a strong offer to the Cowboys. As one of the league's top edge-rushers, Parsons can elevate Green Bay's mediocre pass rush that ranked 16th in pressure rate (22.1 percent) last season.

Green Bay can send Van Ness, along with premium picks, to outbid other teams in pursuit of Parsons. In two years with the Packers, he's recorded 22 pressures, seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. In both campaigns, he played less than 40 percent of the defensive snaps.

In this scenario, the Cowboys would get a fair deal that's similar to what the then-Oakland Raiders received for Khalil Mack in his prime, plus a 24-year-old pass-rusher with upside. Meanwhile, Parsons can help the Packers make a deep playoff push.

Los Angeles Rams Acquire CB Greg Newsome II

AP Photo/David Richard

Browns CB Greg Newsome II

Cleveland Browns Get: 2026 5th-round pick

Los Angeles Rams Get: CB Greg Newsome II

Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke openly about the possibility of trading for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but the deal didn't materialize, leaving the team with a questionable secondary.

Projected starting boundary cornerbacks Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon had their fair share of struggles in coverage. Williams allowed a 101.7 passer rating, while Witherspoon permitted a 96.9 passer rating.

As Matthew Stafford pushes to play with a back injury, Los Angeles should put less stress on the offense to outscore teams and invest more in its secondary.

The Rams may be able to pull off a trade for Newsome, who's entering the last year of his rookie deal. The Browns' quarterback situation, with 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco, limits their offensive upside and the possibility of finishing the 2025 season with a winning record.

By the trade deadline, the Browns may be strong sellers. Newsome would be an appealing asset. Though he's coming off his worst season, the 25-year-old put together three consecutive solid campaigns as a versatile inside-outside cover defender.

Newsome can strengthen the Rams' pass defense, which ranked 20th in yards allowed in 2024.

Pittsburgh Steelers Trade for WR Brandin Cooks

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Saints WR Brandin Cooks

New Orleans Saints Get: 2026 5th-round pick

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: WR Brandin Cooks

Cooks is past his prime, though he can still be a serviceable pass-catching threat with a veteran quarterback. The Saints will start second-year pro Spencer Rattler, and rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough may see some time on the field if the former struggles early in the season.

In his 12th year, Cooks would be a better fit on a playoff-contending squad rather than a team in its early stages of a rebuild with a starting quarterback who has an uncertain short-term future.

Moreover, the Saints have a young trio of receivers in Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Devaughn Vele. Regardless of how their season pans out, they may be willing to move Cooks for draft capital.

The Steelers should be one of the strongest suitors for Cooks, who would be the team's second-best wideout behind DK Metcalf. Calvin Austin III made strides as a big-play receiver last season, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers can target Cooks as his reliable chain-mover in the aerial attack.

Tennessee Titans Acquire WR Romeo Doubs

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Packers WR Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers Get: 2026 4th-round pick

Tennessee Titans Get: WR Romeo Doubs

Typically, it takes more than one offseason to surround a rookie quarterback with the supporting cast he needs to reach his fullest potential. This offseason, the Titans signed two wideouts and drafted a couple of them.

Yet, Tennessee's wide receiver group still lacks quality depth behind Calvin Ridley. The Titans added Tyler Lockett, who's past his prime in his age-33 term, and Van Jefferson, a No. 3 or 4 option at best with modest production in recent years.

With a decent trade offer, Tennessee can attempt to pluck a solid No. 2 wideout from Green Bay's crowded pass-catching group.

The Packers can go four deep at wideout with Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks and Doubs. Christian Watson will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, but general manager Brian Gutekunst believes the 26-year-old will be "champing at the bit" to return after four weeks.

When Watson is back on the field, Doubs, who, according to SI.com's Bill Huber, was frustrated with his role last season, could be expendable for the right compensation. The 25-year-old has a manageable $3.6 million cap number in the final term of his rookie deal.

If the Titans look for more help in the passing game, they should make their first call to the Packers, who have a loaded receiver unit.

Washington Commanders Trade for EDGE Kwity Paye

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Colts EDGE Kwity Paye

Indianapolis Colts Get: 2026 3rd-rounder, 2027 5th-round pick

Washington Commanders Get: EDGE Kwity Paye, 2026 7th-round pick

In July, the Commanders signed Von Miller in an effort to bolster their pass rush. While the move made sense for a team that lost its 2024 sack leader, Dante Fowler Jr., in free agency, Miller is a situational edge-rusher at this stage in his career.

Miller, 36, has played less than 34 percent of defensive snaps in the last two seasons. He can provide a boost in third-and-long situations, but the 15th-year veteran isn't going to transform a mediocre pass rush that ranked 14th in pressure rate (22.6 percent) into a dominant unit.

Washington needs a young defensive end who can line up on all three downs to rush the pocket and stop the run.

Paye isn't a marquee player, but he's consistent and still has room for growth. The 26-year-old has logged at least eight sacks in back-to-back seasons and 10 tackles for loss in two of his four campaigns.

Indianapolis may not be willing to give Paye a new contract before he tests free agency next offseason. If rookie second-rounder JT Tuimoloau shows flashes this year, the Colts may listen to offers for Paye. Washington has the cap space flexibility to acquire and sign him to an extension.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.